Crofton Online: Tabloid Media Watch
Baltimore Sun Breaks Ranks, Blasts Starr; Assault on First Family's Privacy Continues

Sun Editorial Calls Investigation "Massive and Inappropriate, Violating Every American's Concept of the Right of Privacy"

The Baltimore Sun broke ranks with its fellow tabloids today [August 19, 1998] with a blast at Republican Kenneth Starr's investigation, saying that "the office of the presidency and the strength of the Constitution have been weakened" by Starr's actions. Although its 'news' columns continued their unprecedented assault on the First Family's private life, editorially it finally admitted that the press shares at least some responsibility for helping Starr bring shame on the United States.

In addition to Starr, the Sun editorial blamed the President "for doing what he should never have done," that is, engage in sexual activity without first seeking approval from Starr's office. It also blamed "the press pack and the nation for their insatiable and gleeful prurience," without acknowledging its own role in actively encouraging that prurience.

Incredibly, in its 'news' columns, Sun paparazzi reporter Susan Baer claimed to know what was in the First Lady's "heart and in her gut" based on a source identified as "Ed Goeas, a Republican pollster." As the Sun's reporter reached new lows in ethical reporting standards, its editorial staff tried to have it both ways by condemning the press for the very reporting it was simultaneously publishing.

The Sun printed paragraph after paragraph of speculation about what the inner thoughts and feelings of the First Family "may" be, trying to pass this off as legitimate news reporting. The Sun is attempting to protect its power base by competing with ABC News and the other television networks in the race downward to what it apparently sees as the lowest common denominator.

These are the last gasps of a dying industry which is rapidly becoming irrelevant even to its own editorial writers.


Read what author Jon Katz says about the battle between the press and the public.

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